SENATE, No. 491

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM

District 31 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes compensation program for State and juvenile corrections officers and parole officers injured while performing official duties.

 

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

  


An Act concerning certain injured corrections and parole officers and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Any State corrections officer, juvenile corrections officer, or juvenile detention officer who, in the course of performing his official duties, suffers bodily injury as the result of a riot or assault by the inmates or detainees under his custody or charge shall continue to receive full wages until the officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

     In addition to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., the injured officer shall receive regular supplemental payments from his employer in an amount that is sufficient, when added to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., to equal the net wage of the injured officer at the time of the injury.  The supplemental payment authorized under this paragraph shall continue so long as the injured officer remains a State corrections officer, juvenile corrections officer, or juvenile detention officer and continues to be compensated under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

     The fringe benefits afforded an injured officer under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, contract, or statute shall not be negated nor impaired in any way and shall remain in full force and effect during the time that officer is receiving supplement payments pursuant to this section.

 

     2.    Any parole officer who, while in the course of performing his official duties, suffers bodily injury as the result of an assault by an adult or juvenile parolee under his supervision shall continue to receive full wages until the parole officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

     In addition to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., the injured officer shall receive regular supplemental payments from his employer in an amount that is sufficient, when added to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., to equal the net wage of the injured officer at the time of the injury.  The supplemental payment authorized under this paragraph shall continue so long as the injured officer remains a parole officer and continues to be compensated under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

     The fringe benefits afforded an injured officer under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, contract, or statute shall not be negated nor impaired in any way and shall remain in full force and effect during the time that officer is receiving supplement payments pursuant to this section.


     3.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill establishes a compensation program for State corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers, and juvenile detention officers who suffer bodily injury as the result of a riot or assault by the inmates or detainees under their custody and care. The bill also establishes a compensation program for parole officers who suffer bodily injury as the result of an assault committed by an adult or juvenile parolee under their supervision.

     Under the provisions of the bill, an injured officer would be entitled to his or her salary until their workmen’s compensation payments begin.  Once their workmen’s compensation payments begin, the injured officers would be entitled to regular supplemental payments from their employer.  The amount of these payments would be sufficient, when added to the injured officer’s workmen’s compensation, to equal his or her net wages at the time of the injury.

     These supplemental payments are to continue as long as the officer remains a State corrections officer, juvenile corrections officer, juvenile detention officer, or parole officer and continues to receive workmen’s compensation for the injury.

     Finally, the bill specifies that these supplemental payments are not to negate or impair any fringe benefits afforded an injured officer under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, contract, or statute and that these fringe benefits are to remain in full force and effect during the time that officer is receiving the supplemental payments authorized under the bill.